WJPA Sports

HOUSTON (AP) — Top draft pick Fernando Mendoza struggled in his second preseason game, throwing an interception that Houston returned for a touchdown before the Las Vegas Raiders rallied late for a 22-20 victory over the Texans. Mendoza played the first half and went 8 of 15 for 86 yards. The performance came after he threw a touchdown pass in his preseason debut last week against Arizona playing behind Kirk Cousins. Mendoza was sacked once and took several other hits playing against Houston’s second-string defense. C.J. Stroud led the Texans to a touchdown on his only series in his first action of the preseason.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys and the New Orleans Saints have been fined $500,000 apiece by the NFL after their brawl-filled joint practice. The league announced the fines on Thursday after requesting video of the tumultuous workout at the Cowboys’ training camp base in Oxnard, California. Players on both teams threw punches during several skirmishes throughout the joint practice, which was conducted in uncommonly hot, humid weather. A lowlight of the brouhaha was Saints tight end Brock Rechsteiner’s body slam of Cowboys safety Jalen Thompson. Helmets and punches were thrown during several skirmishes.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Rory McIlroy was feeling like his game was far away. That was four days ago. He looked much better in the BMW Championship with a 64 to be part of a five-way tie for the lead at Bellerive. The top of the leaderboard was filled with U.S. Open champions on a course that has been toughened by “Open Doctor” Rees Jones. That includes Wyndham Clark, J.J. Spaun and Gary Woodland sharing the lead, with Matt Fitzpatrick one back. Scottie Scheffler was under the weather and far away from the game that produced an eight-shot win last week. He shot 72.